There are 6 ways to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego by plane, bus (Flixbus, Amtrak), train (Amtrak), car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
best- Fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)SBA - SAN
3h 15m$48–327Drive 214.7 mi
cheapest- Drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego214.7 mi
3h 46m$40–57Bus
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Station ArrivalsFlixBus 2005
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to San DiegoAmtrak Thruway Connecting Service
5h 50mTrain (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Santa Barbara to San DiegoPacific Surfliner
6h 14m$45–110Bus to Los Angeles International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)LAX - SAN
5h 9m$136–376Bus via Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
- Take the bus from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Take the bus from LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop to San DiegoreLAXsan
6h 48m$124–191
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego is to drive which costs $35 - $60 and takes 3h 46m.
The fastest way to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego is to fly which takes 3h 15m and costs $45 - $330.
No, there is no direct bus from Santa Barbara to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Santa Barbara Bus Stop and arriving at San Diego via Los Angeles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 50m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Santa Barbara and arriving at San Diego. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 14m.
The distance between Santa Barbara and San Diego is 207 miles. The road distance is 215.9 miles.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego without a car is to bus which takes 5h 50m and costs .
It takes approximately 3h 15m to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego, including transfers.
Santa Barbara to San Diego bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Santa Barbara Bus Stop station.
Santa Barbara to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Santa Barbara station.
The best way to get from Santa Barbara to San Diego is to fly which takes 3h 15m and costs $45 - $330. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 5h 50m, you could also train, which costs $45 - $110 and takes 6h 14m.
What companies run services between Santa Barbara, CA, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc. and United Airlines fly from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to San Diego via Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals and Los Angeles in around 5h 50m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to San Diego International Airport via Los Angeles International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–330
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $29–230
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $29–230
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–320
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Santa Barbara to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Barbara Bus Stop to Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $17–45
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Los Angeles to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-470-8818
- cclax@cclax.com
- Website
- centralcoastshuttle.com
Bus from Santa Barbara, CA to Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $65–85
- Website
- https://www.centralcoastshuttle.com
- one way non-prepaid
- $75–85
- One-way prepaid 48 hours advance
- $65–80
- Phone
- (858) 430-8440
- contact@gorelaxsan.com
- Website
- gorelaxsan.com
Bus from LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Website
- https://www.gorelaxsan.com/
- Phone
- (323)-776-5467
- hello@laxlinq.com
- Website
- laxlinq.com
Bus from LAX Terminal 3 Shared Rides Stop to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- https://laxlinq.com/
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More Questions & Answers
Santa Barbara to San Diego bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station Arrivals.
Santa Barbara to San Diego train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at San Diego station.
Yes, the driving distance between Santa Barbara to San Diego is 216 miles. It takes approximately 3h 46m to drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
Book your Santa Barbara to San Diego train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Santa Barbara to San Diego bus tickets online with Omio.
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